Judah’s Inheritance
Joshua 15
Joshua 15
Joshua 15. In chapter 15 we have the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. Judah was not the firstborn son, yet his tribe receives first allotment and the most generous inheritance in terms of land area. No doubt this connects with Judah being the royal tribe, from which the Messiah would come. The chapter is divided into three parts. In vv.1-12 we have the border of the tribe of Judah, with plenty of detail given so we can accurately redraw it. Then in vv.13-19 we have a reiteration of Caleb’s victories and possession of his portion. Then in vv.22-63 we have all of the cities and towns within Judah that were to be divided by family. Each tribe was responsible to deal with the inhabitants within their allotted portion. This speaks of how the believer is individually responsible to possess the truth for themselves.
Three Classes. At the end of the book of Joshua the twelve tribes can be classified into three groups, which are analogous to three conditions of professing Christians mentioned in Philippians 3:18-19, those who are "thus-minded" with Paul, those who are "otherwise-minded", and those who are "earthly-minded" (although Paul speaks of empty profession only, while the type is of real believers who are earthly-minded).
- Two and a half western (or cis-Jordan) tribes settled in the land and quickly took possession of their inheritance (Judah, Ephraim, and the half tribe of Manasseh). This represents full grown Christians, those who Paul calls "thus-minded" (see Philippians 3:15). These tribes are covered in Joshua 15-17.
- Seven tribes settled in the land but hesitated to possess (Simeon, Levi, Dan, Issachar, Zebulon, Naphtali, Asher). Joshua worked to stir them up to possess their inheritance (Josh. 18:1-9), and the eventually do. This represents believers who do not fully understand their portion in Christ; yet if they walk in the light that they already have, God will show them more. These are the "otherwise-minded" to whom Paul was confident God would reveal the truth to in good time (see Philippians 3:16)
- Two and a half eastern (trans-Jordan) tribes were still part of Israel but chose not to settle in the land God desired for them. They chose instead according to their commercial interests the rich cattle lands to the east of Jordan. They represent believers who have not laid hold of their heavenly portion in Christ. They live in the enjoyment of the material and earthly provisions of the Lord for His people, but have little interest in heavenly things. Paul speaks of those who are "earthly-minded" (Philippians 3:18-19), false professors whose god is their belly, and whose end is destruction. That would be those who take the name of Christ without real faith. The two and a half tribes are real believers but affected by the same things as Paul's "earthly-minded", through their end is not destruction.
Judah’s Boundaries (15:1–12)
CHAPTER 15
1 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was: to the border of Edom, the wilderness of Zin, southward, in the extreme south. 2 And their southern border was from the end of the salt sea, from the tongue that turns southward; 3 and it went out south of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed on to Zin, and went up on the south of Kadesh-barnea, and passed to Hezron, and went up toward Addar, and turned toward Karkaah, 4 and passed on to Azmon, and went out by the torrent of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. That shall be your border southward.
vv.1-4 Judah’s Southern Boundary. The southern border of Judah was also the southern border of the nation, which was shared with Edom toward the south east. Key landmarks included the torrent of Egypt (Wadi El-Arish) which was a small river that would have to be crossed on the way from Canaan to Egypt, the salt sea (or Dead Sea), Mount Akrabbim, and the wilderness of Zin. A key city in the south of Judah was Kadesh-barnea which was where the twelve spies were sent from (Num. 13:26-33; Deut. 1:19-46).
5 — And the eastern border was the salt sea as far as the end of the Jordan. — And the border on the north side was from the tongue of the salt sea, at the end of the Jordan; 6 and the border went up toward Beth-hoglah, and passed north of Beth-Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben; 7 and the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and turned northward to Gilgal, which is opposite to the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the torrent; and the border passed to the waters of En-shemesh, and ended at En-rogel; 8 and the border went up to the valley of the son of Hinnom, toward the south side of the Jebusite, that is, Jerusalem; and the border went up to the top of the mountain that is before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of Rephaim northward; 9 and the border reached along from the top of the mountain toward the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and went out toward the cities of mount Ephron; and the border reached along to Baalah, that is, Kirjath-jearim; 10 and the border turned from Baalah westwards toward mount Seir, and passed toward the side of Har-jearim, that is, Chesalon, northwards, and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed Timnah. 11 And the border went out to the side of Ekron northwards, and the border reached along toward Shicron, and passed mount Baalah, and went toward Jabneel; and the border ended at the sea.
vv.5-11 Eastern and Northern Boundaries. The eastern border of Judah is the Dead Sea, up to where the Jordan empties into it. The northern border stretched from the Jordan westward to the Mediterranean, running just south of Jerusalem, and passing by Ekron (of the Philistines). Judah shared a border with Benjamin and Dan to the north.
12 — And the west border is the great sea and its coast. This is the border of the children of Judah round about, according to their families.
v.12 Western Boundary of Judah. The western boundary of Judah was the Mediterranean Sea. The Philistines maintained a presence in the land mostly within the inheritance of Judah along the Mediterranean coast. It was Judah’s responsibility (and failure) to put the Philistines out of their inheritance (see Judges 1:1-20). David finally subdued them during his reign. This gives us the full scope of Judah’s inheritance, around 2000 square miles, although this was later modified by the introduction of Simeon, which had a portion inside the inheritance of Judah.
Caleb’s Victory and Possession (15:13–19)
13 And to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the children of Judah according to the commandment of Jehovah to Joshua, the city of Arba, the father of Anak, that is, Hebron. 14 And thence Caleb dispossessed the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, who were born of Anak. 15 And from there he went up against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher.
vv.13-15 Caleb’s Victory and Possession. Caleb was of the tribe of Judah, and yet he receives a special inheritance within Judah. The primary cities in Caleb’s inheritance were the cities of Kirjath-Arba (renamed Hebron) and Kirjath-sepher (renamed Debir). Hebron was “the city of Arba, the father of Anak”, and was where the three sons of Anak lived. They are named: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai. The name Hebron means “communion”, and it speaks of the believer’s enjoyment of fellowship with God. The giants had to be dispossessed before Hebron could be possessed. Just so, the enemy puts his strongest agents to prevent the believer from enjoying communion. Once the giants were removed from Hebron, Caleb would not yet rest. He moved against Debir, or Kirjath-sepher, which means “city of the book (or oracle)”, and would speak of reading the Word of God.
16 And Caleb said, He that smites Kirjath-sepher and takes it, to him will I give Achsah [‘ankle-ring’] my daughter as wife. 17 And Othniel [‘lion’] the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. 18 And it came to pass as she came, that she urged him to ask of her father a field; and she sprang down from the ass. And Caleb said to her, What wouldest thou? 19 And she said, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a southern land; give me also springs of water. Then he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
vv.16-19 Othniel and Achsah. We see a beautiful thing with Caleb. He encouraged a younger generation to possess the land! Very often the effect of individual faithfulness is that it encourages others to persevere. Caleb offered his daughter Achsah to wife for any man who would smite and take Kijath-sepher. No doubt she was a prize. Her father would not give her away to a slouch. Caleb’s young nephew Othniel stepped forward to the challenge, and took the city. Othniel would later became Israel’s first judge, and go on – an overcomer himself – to help others overcome. We see that Caleb’s value for the inheritance was passed down to his daughter, for she urged Othniel to ask Caleb for a field. A field is a place to grow food. She herself also asked for springs of water, and Caleb willingly gave her “the upper springs and the lower springs”. Achsah received double what she had asked for. The springs might speak of the refreshment of of the Word of God. What a joy for Caleb to see the eagerness in his daughter for the land the Lord had promised them!
The Inheritance of Judah Divided by Families (15:20–63)
20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. 21 The cities at the extremity of the tribe of the children of Judah, toward the border of Edom in the south, were: Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, 22 and Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, 23 and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Jithnan, 24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, 25 and Hazor-hadattah, and Kerioth-Hezron, that is Hazor, 26 Amam, and Shema, and Molada, 27 and Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-Pelet, 28 and Hazar-Shual, and Beer-sheba, and Biziothiah; 29 Baalah, and Ijim, and Ezem, 30 and Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, 31 and Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansanna, 32 and Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities twenty-nine, and their hamlets. 33 — In the lowland: Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah, 34 and Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah and Enam, 35 Jarmuth and Adullam, Sochoh and Azekah, 36 and Shaaraim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim: fourteen cities and their hamlets. 37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-Gad, 38 and Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, 39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, 40 and Cabbon, and Lahmas, and Chithlish, 41 and Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities and their hamlets. 42 Libna, and Ether, and Ashan, 43 and Jiphthah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, 44 and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities and their hamlets. 45 Ekron and its dependent villages and its hamlets. 46 From Ekron and westward all that are by the side of Ashdod, and their hamlets. 47 Ashdod, its dependent villages and its hamlets; Gazah, its dependent villages and its hamlets, as far as the torrent of Egypt, and the great sea and its coast. 48 — And in the hill-country: Shamir, and Jattir, and Sochoh, 49 and Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, that is, Debir, 50 and Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, 51 and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities and their hamlets. 52 Arab, and Dumah, and Eshan, 53 and Janum, and Beth-Tappuah, and Aphekah, 54 and Humtah, and Kirjath-Arba, that is, Hebron, and Zior: nine cities and their hamlets. 55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Jutah, 56 and Jizreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, 57 Kain, Gibeah and Timnah: ten cities and their hamlets. 58 Halhul, Beth-Zur, and Gedor, 59 and Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon: six cities and their hamlets. 60 Kirjath-Baal, that is, Kirjath-jearim, and Rabbah: two cities and their hamlets. 61 — In the wilderness: Beth-Arabah, Middin, and Secacah, 62 and Nibshan, and Ir-Hammelah, and En-gedi: six cities and their hamlets. 63 But as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not dispossess them; and the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
vv.20-63 The Inheritance of Judah Divided by Families. Judah was was responsible to deal with the inhabitants within their allotted portion. This was to be divided by families. This speaks of how the believer is individually responsible to possess the truth for themselves. The land is described in detail, with each city given, then its dependent villages and hamlets. Judah was unable to drive out the Jebusites. It was finally accomplished by David after he became king (2 Sam. 5:6-9).
Following is a table of many of the names of cities and places within Judah, with their modern locations, coordinates, and meaning. In some cases the modern location is uncertain, and marked with an asterisk. Many of these names may come from different roots or have obscure meanings. Because of this, and the uncertainty of etymology, we have not pursued their interpretations. Caution is advised against drawing firm conclusions from name meanings alone.
| Biblical Name | Modern Identification | Coordinates | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabzeel | Khirbet Hora | 31.2862, 34.9324 | God gathers |
| Eder | Tel Arad* | 31.2583, 35.1042 | Flock |
| Dimonah | Dimona | 31.0713, 35.033 | Rest |
| Adadah | Arad region* | 31.2583, 35.1042 | Ornament of ornament |
| Ziph | Tell Zif | 31.47, 35.14 | Flowing or mouthful |
| Kadesh-barnea | Kadesh-barnea | 30.9452, 34.4090 | Desert of wandering |
| Molada | Tel Malhata* | 31.2167, 34.9667 | Birth or generation |
| Beer-sheba | Beersheba | 31.2518, 34.7913 | Well of the oath |
| Hormah | Tel Masos* | 31.2167, 34.9667 | Devoted to destruction |
| Ziklag | Tell esh-Sharia* | 31.35, 34.5833 | Winding or pressing down |
| Eshtaol | Eshtaol | 31.7833, 34.9833 | Entreaty or request |
| Zoreah | Zorah | 31.75, 34.95 | Place of wasps or hornet |
| Zanoah | Zanoah | 31.7333, 35.0 | Marsh or rejected |
| Jarmuth | Tel Yarmuth | 31.7333, 34.95 | Elevation |
| Adullam | Khirbet esh-Sheikh Madkur* | 31.65, 35.0 | Refuge or retreat |
| Sochoh | Khirbet Shuweikeh* | 31.7, 34.9333 | Bush or thorn |
| Azekah | Tell Zakariya | 31.7, 34.9333 | Dug over or tilled |
| Shaaraim | Khirbet Qeiyafa* | 31.7, 34.9333 | Two gates |
| Lachish | Tel Lachish | 31.56, 34.835 | Invincible or impregnable |
| Eglon | Tell Eton* | 31.6, 34.8 | Circle or round |
| Makkedah | Tell el-Judeideh* | 31.7, 34.9 | Place of shepherds |
| Libna | Tel Burna* | 31.6, 34.9 | Whiteness |
| Keilah | Khirbet Qeila* | 31.6, 34.9 | Citadel or fortress |
| Mareshah | Tel Sandahannah | 31.6, 34.9 | Summit or crest |
| Ekron | Tel Miqne | 31.8, 34.9 | Emigration or uprooted |
| Ashdod | Ashdod | 31.8, 34.65 | Stronghold |
| Gaza | Gaza City | 31.5, 34.4667 | Fortified |
| Jattir | Khirbet Attir* | 31.4, 35.0 | Pre-eminent or excellent |
| Kirjath-sannah (Debir) | Tell Beit Mirsim* | 31.4, 34.9 | City of the book or oracle |
| Anab | Anab | 31.4, 35.0 | Grape |
| Eshtemoh | Eshtemoa | 31.4, 35.0 | Obedience or hearing |
| Kirjath-Arba (Hebron) | Hebron | 31.5333, 35.095 | City of Arba (Communion) |
| Maon | Ma’in | 31.4, 35.0 | Dwelling or habitation |
| Carmel | Khirbet el-Karmil | 31.4, 35.0 | Vineyard or garden |
| Jutah | Yatta | 31.4, 35.0 | Extended or inclined |
| Timnah | Tel Batash* | 31.75, 34.95 | Portion |
| Halhul | Halhul | 31.58, 35.1 | Trembling or hollow |
| Kirjath-jearim | Deir el-Azar* | 31.8, 35.1 | City of the Forest |
| En-gedi | Ein Gedi | 31.46, 35.39 | Spring of the kid |
| Jerusalem | Jerusalem | 31.7683, 35.2137 | Foundation of peace |